by K. L. Hemley
“I’m sorry for your loss,” said Jesse respectfully.
“These things happen,” Mabel told him curtly. “I find it’s best not to dwell on these things. They had a good life and they loved each other. There’s a lot to be said for that.”
“So you’re following in their footsteps?” Jesse asked. “Who’s the lucky fellow who’s going to die of a broken heart when you’re gone?”
Mabel rolled her eyes and shook her head. “Oh please, Mr Lockwood. I’m far too busy for such nonsense.”
“Come on, Miss Mabel,” Jesse persisted. “You can’t tell me that a woman like you hasn’t been fending off suitors with a big stick!”
Mabel couldn’t help but laugh. “There have been a few interested parties, yes,” she confirmed. “But nobody that was ever worth my while bothering with. If I marry, and it is a big if, I want it to be for love or not at all. There’ve been too many that thought I was lucky to have their attention or saw my hand as some kind of business transaction. I’d rather be with my horses, if it’s all the same to you.”
“So there’s hope for me yet, then?” Jesse said cheekily.
“You, Mr Lockwood?” Mabel arched an eyebrow. “Never in a million years. Not even if you were the last man on Earth.”
“Ouch! You wound me to the core!” Jesse dramatically acted as though he’d been shot in the heart, but his twinkling eyes gave away the fact that he wasn’t upset in the slightest. Mabel laughed. She was telling the truth when she said she had no romantic interest in him, but she was beginning to think that his presence on the trail might not be such a bad thing after all – at least he’d provide some entertainment along the way.
They hit a steady pace. Mabel was hoping that they’d cover at least ten miles on that first day. She didn’t want to push the cattle too hard, but if they could get into a rhythm, barring any unexpected incidents, they would arrive at their destination in good time and could head home again.
Soon it was time for a break and Jonas pulled over the chuck wagon, setting up the fold-out counter to prepare lunch on. Mabel was exceptionally grateful that he’d agreed to travel with them – he had a way with food that could make even the most basic of meals palatable, which was a good thing. If it were left to Mabel to cook for the crew, they’d be eating burnt sourdough bullets washed down with coffee that was so strong, you could stand a spoon in it.
Now was the time to switch the horses as well and Ned was kept busy rushing around, swapping everyone’s mount for a fresh one. Mabel watched him talking to the horses as he worked. She smiled as she recognized something of herself in the young man’s manner. She’d always believed that animals responded better to kindness and she’d found that she naturally attracted ranch hands who shared her approach. She’d lost count of how many men had expressed surprise at the relationship she had with her animals and she knew that it didn’t matter how much she explained the benefit of being gentle, some people would never get it.
“Penny for them,” said Jesse coming over to her side.
“What?”
“Well you seemed so lost in thought, I figured it must be worth paying to see what you were thinking,” he explained.
“Oh.” Mabel shook her head waving him away. “I was just watching Ned with the horses. He’s got a good future ahead of him that one, if he keeps on doing as he’s doing.”
“Yes, I must say that your men aren’t bad,” Jesse nodded. “Of course, my men are more highly skilled, but that’s to be expected. After all, you’ve been stuck on one ranch all your life. You can’t expect to have learned as much as I have if you haven’t traveled around.”
“When exactly did I say that I haven’t traveled around?” replied Mabel indignantly. “I’ll have you know that I spent summers over at my uncle’s property and this is by no means my first cattle drive. I-” She broke off when she realized that, yet again, Jesse was laughing at her. “I tell you what, Mr Lockwood,” she said, narrowing her eyes in an expression that usually had most men running for cover. “Why don’t we quit delving into the depths of my past and focus on the job at hand? In my experience – which is more than adequate to be leading this drive, thank you very much – the more a cowboy talks, the less he does and I don’t know about you, but I want to be at market as soon as possible so we can sell these beasts and get back home again.”
“Aw, Miss Mabel. I’m just trying to have some fun,” complained Jesse light-heartedly. “Why so serious? It’s a long road ahead and I’d rather spend it as friends.”
“For someone who claims to want to be friends, you’ve got a funny way of showing it,” Mabel said tartly.
“That’s just my way,” Jesse explained. “You don’t want to go taking it too seriously. In truth, I wouldn’t have suggested we travel together if I didn’t have the utmost respect for how you handle yourself. I could just as easily have taken my herd myself.”
Mabel was beginning to wish that he had. She suspected that Jesse Lockwood was going to be responsible for more than a fair share of headaches along the way. If he could only keep his mouth shut, he’d be a far more pleasant companion…
Chapter Three: Under a Starry Sky
Their first day on the trail was uneventful, which was just how Mabel liked it. If things were exciting, it invariably meant that something was going horribly wrong. She remembered her first trail. One of the cowboys had encountered a rattler when he’d gone off to do his business. They’d all assisted in digging his grave. It wasn’t an experience she cared to repeat any time soon.
“Not bad for a first day, Miss Mabel. Not bad at all,” said Jesse, coming to sit down next to her with his plate of SOB stew. “Keep this up and I might think that you know what you’re doing after all.”
Mabel sniffed but said nothing. She was beginning to realize that Jesse said things just to get a rise out of her. His idea of humor she supposed.
“So what’s your deal, Mr Lockwood?” she asked. “You don’t strike me as the kind of man who’d be happy out among the cows all deal. What brings you to these parts?”
“Appearances can be deceptive,” he replied. “Like you, I grew up on a ranch. However, my granddaddy wanted to make his fortune when they discovered gold in California, so he shipped his whole family down there when he heard about it, only to be one of the unlucky ones. He barely made enough to cover his cost of living while they were down there and by the time he headed back home, his tail between his legs, he was far from the comfortably wealthy man he’d been before he left. I’ve had to work hard for everything I own, but I appreciate it all the more for it. He might not have lived the Californian Dream, but I’ve found that with a bit of hard work, good fortune and the ability to spot a good opportunity when I see one, I’ve not done too badly for myself.”
“So you’ve always been a cowboy?” Mabel asked.
“For the most part,” came the reply. “I’ve made a few investments here and there, traveled around, broadened my horizons a little, but first and foremost, I’m a cowboy at heart. I don’t think it matters what I do, I’ll always come home to the range.”
Some devil sitting on Mabel’s shoulder whispered in her ear, urging her to turn the tables on him. “And what about your romantic entanglements? Surely a strapping man like you has a woman in every port?”
“But of course!” grinned Jesse. “There’s Marie, Elizabeth, Susanna…” He couldn’t keep it up and burst into laughter at the disapproving look that had spread over Mabel’s face. “Oh, you should see yourself, Miss Mabel!” he laughed. “You want to watch yourself – you could sour milk with a face like that!”
Mabel said nothing, glaring at him.
“No, if you want to know the truth,” Jesse said, “there was someone many years ago. I loved her with all my heart and we made plans to get married. However, her father didn’t approve. He had someone else in mind for her. When it came down to it, Jayne’s father was more important to her than I was, so she did as she was told and married someone else ins
tead. Last I heard, she had three children and could nag the leg off a hind donkey. I think I’ve had a lucky escape. Give me the freedom of life on the open road without any ties. I have my cattle and good men around me. That’s all I need. Women only complicate things with all their emotions and feelings and needing to talk everything through to the finest detail. In any case, they only want us men for one thing – our money.”
“We do not!” Mabel couldn’t stop herself. “I’ve got plenty of my own, thank you very much.”
Jesse chuckled. “Oh, Miss Mabel. You really are so much fun to mock. I’m glad you’re on this journey with me. You’re going to make it so much more entertaining.” He got up and went to rinse his bowl out before spreading his roll out by the men he’d brought on the trail with him, leaving Mabel to watch after him, her mouth wide open in astonishment.
“You want to watch your back with him, Miss Mabel,” said Charlie, one of her drovers coming to sit next to her. “There’s something about him that doesn’t sit quite right with me.”
“Don’t worry, Charlie,” Mabel replied. “I’m keeping him at arm’s length all right, at least as much as I’ll be able to during the drive. I just need to learn to bite my tongue and not rise to the bait. He’s just so… so… annoying! He seems to think that I should be falling at his feet just because he’s good looking. Well, if he thinks I’m as easy a conquest as the Maries and Elizabeths of this world, he’s got another think coming.”
“Just be careful,” Charlie advised. “He’s the kind of man who’d see a strong woman like you as the perfect kind of conquest. None of us want to see you get hurt. You just say the word and me and the boys will make sure that Jesse knows not to overstep the bounds.”
“Thanks, Charlie,” Mabel smiled. “It’s good to know you all have my back. I’m sure nothing like that will be necessary though. I think that our Mr Lockwood is nothing but talk. Men like him don’t have the guts to do anything. It’s all bravado.”
“Well, the offer’s there. We’re all here for you, Miss Mabel.”
“Thanks, Charlie,” said Mabel. “I appreciate it.”
Charlie was on the night shift, so he went off to begin his rounds while Mabel laid out her bedroll and made herself comfortable for the night.
She lay back and looked at the stars. She didn’t think she’d ever get used to their brilliance. You could get lost in space watching the constellations and trying to count the thousands of twinkling lights.
As she looked up, Mabel gasped when she saw a shooting star coming down over the horizon. Superstitious instinct made her close her eyes and make a wish. “Let us get to Dodge City without any difficulty.” She opened her eyes and another thought struck her, making her quickly close her eyes again before the magic of the star disappeared. “And let Jesse Lockwood stop being so arrogant, stop bothering me and just get on with the work.”
A sense of peace came over her as she felt as though the star’s magic was working already. She soon drifted off to sleep, lulled by the sounds of muttered conversation and a fiddle playing sweet ballads.
Chapter Four: The Magic of the Stars
Mabel woke the next morning feeling refreshed and ready to face another long journey. She debated whether they should set a faster pace today and decided it was worth risking it. If they eased off a little tomorrow, one day of pushing the cattle wouldn’t make any difference.
“How was your night, Miss Mabel?” asked Ned, as the pair of them helped themselves to some of the breakfast Jonas was serving.
“Good, thank you Ned,” she replied. “If the rest of the journey continues this smoothly, this will be the easiest drive yet. You’ve picked a good one for your first trip.”
“I’m just glad you gave me the chance to come along,” Ned told her. “I really enjoy working with the horses and I’ve wanted to see a bit more of the world outside of the range.”
“I was always going to bring you along,” Mabel smiled warmly. “You’ve got a real knack with animals. You work as hard as I know you will and there’ll be a bit more responsibility for you around the ranch when we get back.”
“Thank you, Miss Mabel!” Ned said excitedly. “I won’t let you down, I swear I won’t.”
“I know you won’t,” Mabel told him.
Jesse came over and sat down next to Mabel, breakfast in hand. “Morning,” he nodded. “Shaping up to be another fine day looks like.”
Mabel agreed. “We’re certainly going to be blessed with sunshine today. I was planning on making good time today, put some distance between us and the ranch. Once we’re over to those hills, we can take things a little slower again but I think we can afford to push the cattle a bit today. Grazing’s good round here.”
“That sounds like a good plan,” Jesse said. “Nothing like putting a good bit of distance between yourself and home to really make you feel like you’re on the trail. As long as we don’t push the cattle too hard for too long, we’ll be all right.”
“Don’t worry,” Mabel assured him. “I’ll be keeping a close eye on things. I don’t make my animals do anything that’s going to hurt them. I want to get the best price when we hit Dodge City.”
“Don’t we both?” grinned Jesse.
Mabel nodded and shrugged, focusing back on her food.
“Listen,” Jesse began. “I wanted to apologize to you.”
“For what?” asked Mabel in surprise.
“Well I’m getting the impression that you think, well, that you think that I’ve been kind of an idiot.”
Mabel blushed but didn’t reply. After all, she wasn’t going to lie – he had been really annoying from the moment they’d met, but she wasn’t going to be rude either.
“It’s all right – you don’t need to say anything,” Jesse laughed. “I know that sometimes I can be a little overbearing and I speak before I think, but I want you to know that I have nothing but respect for you. I’ve been watching the way you handle your horse and I think you could give most of my cowboys a ride for their money. Not me, of course…”
Mabel looked at him and the twinkle in his eyes made her laugh. “That’s more like it,” Jesse remarked. “Look, we’ve got a good few months of traveling time ahead of us. I just want to have fun along the way. We’ll all have a much better time if we’re friends, so what’s say we both try and get along? I’ll try to be less annoying and you try to be less uptight.”
Mabel gasped at the insult, but then took a hold of herself and forced herself to calm down. By now, she was getting used to Jesse’s ways. It was almost as though he couldn’t help himself – he had to find the most irritating way of saying something, just to see the kind of reaction he’d get. She was beginning to see that he never really meant any harm by anything he said and she had to concede that he did have a point. She could be a little too quick to take offense. “That sounds like a great plan,” she agreed.
“So we have a deal then?” Jesse held out his hand for her to shake.
“Deal.” Mabel got to her feet. “You might want to hurry up with that breakfast though. I want to hit the road within the next ten minutes or so.”
“Yes ma’am!” Jesse began wolfing his food down while Mabel went over to Jonas, who was packing up the wagon, ready to get moving again.
“Everything all right, Miss Mabel?” he asked as she approached.
“Well it’s just the strangest thing,” Mabel told him. “I just had an apology from Jesse Lockwood for being a pain. An apology!”
“Stranger things have happened on the trail,” observed Jonas. “Besides, didn’t I say that I thought the pair of you would have a lot in common? Nobody argues as much as you two do unless they like each other.”
“Oh, would you just quit already?” sighed Mabel. “I told you before. I’m not interested in Jesse Lockwood like that. All I want is a nice, peaceful trail over to Kansas. I don’t have time for any romantic nonsense.”
“Then perhaps you should make time,” Jonas told her. “I knew your pare
nts well, remember, and they’d want you to be happy. I don’t think they’d want you to spend the rest of your life holed up in the ranch, hiding yourself away from any man that crosses your path.”
“I don’t do that!” protested Mabel. “The ranch needs me. My animals need me. I don’t deliberately avoid anything, but I’m too busy to be worrying about courting.”
“Really?” Jonas gave her a disbelieving look. “What about that cowboy who wanted to get to know you better? Clive, wasn’t it? You soon found an excuse to get rid of him.”
“It wasn’t an excuse! His work was sloppy. I’m not having anyone on my ranch who doesn’t give their all and I’m certainly not going to get involved with someone as lazy as he was.”
“I seem to recall him being up with the morning chorus and working until the sun set, but if you say so, Miss Mabel.” Jonas looked sceptical. “And what about that Marcus? Your mother would have really liked him.”
“Not if she saw the way he treated the horses, she wouldn’t,” Mabel said darkly. “Anyone who whips one of my horses isn’t someone I care to have anywhere near me, thank you very much.”
“Fair enough,” conceded Jonas. “But don’t you ever think that you are perhaps a little too picky? Don’t you think it would be nice to find a cowboy you like and settle down?”
“Sometimes,” admitted Mabel. “But if I want to marry someone, then they have to be the right someone. I’m happy enough with the ranch. It keeps me busy and I don’t have time to be lonely. How could I miss having someone by my side when I have the views over the range and the sound of the crickets to keep me company at night? No, give me my horses. They understand me and they don’t feel the need to complicate things or try to boss me around. There’s time enough for love later.”
“It just seems a shame, is all,” Jonas said. “Someone like you deserves a good man by her side. I tell you something. If I were twenty years younger, I’d be asking for your hand.”
